Nigeria cricket unveils Sri Lankan as new coach

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has unveiled Asanka Gurusinha, a Sri Lankan, as its head coach and high performance manager.

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports, formally presented Gurusinha at a brief ceremony held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Dare, who was represented at the event by Maria Whophil, deputy director at the ministry of youth and sports development, commended the federation’s vision and dedication since the new board was sworn in in 2017.

“We have seen the NCF’s passion and vision to grow the game, especially its interest in grassroots development, which tallies with the direction of the ministry, and this has encouraged us to support the federation’s efforts,” he said.

“Gurusinha’s unveiling today followed a tedious process and we are glad that it came through. Therefore, I want to implore all stakeholders, especially sponsors, partners and supporters of the Nigeria cricket to rally the board and the new coach towards achieving the desired success.”

Also speaking, Yahaya Ukwenya, the NCF president, described Gurusinha’s appointment as a deliberate effort aimed at helping the federation to attain its five strategic imperatives of promoting the sport at all levels, upgrading infrastructures, engaging strategic partnership, improving the quality of players and officials and maintaining appropriate governance and finance structures.

“We are already upgrading five of our facilities to international standard, including the one to be used for the National Sports Festival in Benin City. We also look forward to seeing our achievements on and off the field rise through the expertise and professionalism that the new Head Coach would bring to Nigeria cricket,” Ukwenya said.

Commenting on his appointment, Gurusinha, who was picked ahead of 32 other coaches that applied for the job, admitted that the interview session proved the most thorough and rigorous since he commenced his coaching career more than two decades ago.

“I am really looking forward to the best we can achieve with the level of enthusiasm, talent and support that I have seen the Nigerian Cricket Federation enjoys,” he said.